Woburn Safari Park — Zoo in Woburn

Woburn Safari Park and its collection

Woburn Safari Park, opened in 1970, is a zoo in Milton Keynes, United Kingdom.

It covers 360 acres within ducal estates that also take in the abbey and a 3,000-acre deer park, with animals ranging loose while cars pass through the enclosures. A 40-acre leisure zone offers keeper talks, petting areas, a shop, a restaurant and a Go Ape course.

History

The park opened in 1970, set up by the 13th Duke of Bedford with Jimmy Chipperfield on the Woburn Abbey estate. The aim was to shore up estate finances and repair the abbey, which had been run down by wartime and heavy post-war taxation.

Animals and collection

Species kept include white rhinoceros, scimitar-horned oryx, addax, African wild ass, Asian elephant, bison, lion, wolf and Barbary macaque.

Conservation and approach

It runs the African Ungulate Conservation Centre, among the largest hoofstock facilities anywhere, along with an Asian elephant unit. It also manages the mountain bongo breeding programme and is a leading European breeder of Rothschild's giraffe.

What the venue says

• There are multiple food and drink outlets (such as the Safari Restaurant and coffee/snack kiosks) offering hot meals, children's lunch boxes, snacks, and hot/cold beverages.
• On-site parking is completely free of charge.
• Because the Road Safari is traversed in your own vehicle, visitors remain in their cars.